A longtime Arizona bar and restaurant has abruptly closed its doors, ending a 15-year run in a popular college-town area. The closure comes as the business faces scrutiny from state liquor regulators following two deadly crashes involving a drivers who investigators say had been drinking at the establishment.
Tempe Tavern closes
Tempe Tavern in Tempe has permanently closed and is liquidating its assets, according to AZFamily. Online auction listings advertised everything from barstools and tables to commercial refrigerators and beer taps, confirming that the longtime business was winding down its operations.
The closure was reported shortly after a September 16 crash on U.S. 60 in Mesa. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a 21-year-old driver crashed into vehicles that were stopped on the shoulder while a family was changing a flat tire. An 82-year-old woman was killed, while two other family members were hospitalized.
State regulators investigate
The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control confirmed that investigators served a search warrant at Tempe Tavern. Officials said they found evidence that the driver had been served alcohol at the bar before the crash.
The tavern had also faced scrutiny following a separate deadly crash in December 2025. In that case, Tempe police said a woman had been at the tavern shortly before allegedly striking and killing a motorcyclist in a hit-and-run. State liquor officials subsequently investigated the establishment and recommended that its liquor license be revoked.
Owners dispute the circumstances
The timing of the closure has raised questions about whether the latest investigation played a role. However, state officials have not said that regulatory action directly caused the business to shut down.
Arizona’s dram shop law can allow victims or surviving family members to pursue civil claims against liquor establishments in certain circumstances involving service to obviously intoxicated people or minors. Legal experts cited by AZFamily said closing the business does not necessarily prevent potential civil claims.
For customers, the closure marks the end of a longtime Tempe establishment that had been part of the area’s restaurant and nightlife scene for more than a decade.
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